The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-01-07


Awooden clock is good deal OF Il cur
iosity in this part of the world, hut in
Europe, and especially on the Continent.
clock and watch maker has yet failed
to penetrate, the wooden clock is the
general rule among the middle and
lower classes. The simplest form of
timepieces of this construction are very
cheap, and rs they combine with this
the advantage of being fairly accurate
timekeepers their popularity is not to be
wondered at. Itis perhaps not general
ly known that these wooden clocks are
the product of an industry that is ear
Iied on almost exclusively in the Black
Forest in Germany, and in recent re-
port to the State Department Consul
Ballow of Kchl gives a very interesting
account OF the history Of this curious
and, one might almost say, primitive
industry. The inhabitants of this wild
aud otherwise anproductiyc region ap-
parently had no other resource but to
engage in some such employment, and
II this respect the wooden clock indus
try is a species of natural production,
in which, all the phases of the process
Of evolution are illustrated. They did
not have the soil to work upon, but they.
had plenty of wood, and the natural
ingenuity Of the people was not long in
turning it to account.
The first wooden clocks were made
ia the seventeenth century and were
of the most primitive construction.
Even in the middle of the last century
the mechanism was of the simplest
form. and consisted of three wooden
wheels and an cscapement resembling o
yoke, which was operated by leaden
weights. The pendulum was introduc-
cd still later, but it was not until thirty
years ago that any changes were made
in the old traditional forms. Many of
these old clocks were very complicated
i'm their mechanism, at least SO far as
attachments were concerned, and in ad-
dltion to recording the time of day they
would mark the day of the week, month,
and year, the principal feast days, and
operate whole armies of soldiers and
other automatic figures. The clock
makers of the Black Forest during the
early part of the present century had
gained such reputation for their pro-
duct that they controlled the market on
the Continent and made great deal of
money. Then new styles came into
fashion, and for long time the indus
try in the Black Forest languished be-
cause the manufacturers refused to give
up the old form. Since 1850, however,
they have conformed to the more mod
crn usages, and now all varieties of
clocks are made, from tho very finest
regulators with metallic works down to
the plainest of old wooden forms, for
there arc still many who adhere to the
old traditions.
There arc now ninety-two commune
ties engaged in this industry in the
BLACK Forest, and IN 1880 the total pro-
duction was 100000 clocks. the City
of Furtwaugen alone making over 400,
600. They are sent TO all parts of the
world, the present trade with the United
States being valued at $4,000. The
varieties in greatest demand here are
the cuckso and trumpeter clocks, al
though occasionally chronometers and
musical ones are imported. Germany
takes all kinds from the finest regula-
tors down; Austria only tho cheap artic.
les, such rs the chainwork clocks, the
high duty being an impeachment to
trade England takes the trumpeter
and cnckoo clocks and REGULATORS.